Ellisif Hals builds up her works layer by layer. With images in dry point etching, she adds one sheet over the other, then slowly and precisely cutting parts away from the top layers. She works like an archeologist, uncovering and exposing the image within, letting details from each sheet be a part of the final image. Ellisif Hals’ working process is meticulous. Nevertheless, she cannot know the exact result beforehand. The layers, with their different colors and pictorial depths, create a sculptural image, where light and shadow, play equally important parts. Ellisif Hals finds inspiration in crafts, where the creative process takes time, and in history and architecture. Her works are like architectural collages, where the eye can choose many winding roads and find unexpected treasures on the way.
Ellisif Hals, born 1981 in Molde, Norway, currently lives and works in Malmö, Sweden. Ellisif Hals holds a BFA from the Konstfag at Oslo National Academy of Art, 2006.
Ellisif Hals's work has been shown at Malmö konstmuseum; Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm; Ystads konstmuseum; Malmö Konsthall; Oslo Kunstforening; Galleri Ping-Pong, Malmö; Galleri Thomas Wallner, Simrishamn; Arnstedt Östra Karup; Galleri Hammarén, Göteborg; Norske Grafikere, Oslo; Konsthallen Meken, Smedjebacken; Neues Kunsthaus, Ahrenshoop; Møre og Romsdal Kunstnersenter, Molde; Market Art Fair, Stockholm and CHART Art Fair, Copenhagen, among others.
Ellisif Hals is the recipient of Sigvard and Marianne Bernadotte’s Art Foundation Grant, Maria Bonnier Dahlin’s Grant, Sparebanken Møre Gnist Scolarship and Sparebankstiftelsen DNBs Scolarship, among others.
Ellisif Hals's work is in the permanent collection of Bonniers Konstsamling; Malmö Konstmuseum; The Public Art Agency Sweden; Stockholm Läns Landsting; Stockholm konst; Uppsala Kommun; Region Skåne; Gävle Kommun; Region Katrineholm; Region Norrköping. Public commissions include Stockholm konst, Stockholm Läns Landsting and Bekkevoll Ungdomsskole in Norway.